| Contents |
Family background, childhood, school 1936-53 -- Royal Academy of Music 1953-57 -- Cologne 1957-61 -- Stella and the Americans 1961-62 -- Italy, family life and Buffalo 1963-66 -- Treatise 1963-67 -- AMM 1965-71 -- The Royal Academy of Music, Morley College, and the founding of the scratch orchestra 1967-69 -- The scratch orchestra 1969 -- The scratch in Cornwall and Anglesey 1970 -- The Great Learning 1968-70 -- Scratch criticism and self-destruction 1971-72 -- Maoism and the art schools -- The Munich Olympics and Austria 1972 -- AMM versus Mao Tse-Tung thought 1971-73 -- Berlin 1973-74 -- Stockhausen serves imperialism 1974 -- A revolutionary learning curve 1975 -- The PCA in Ireland 1976 -- Maoist apotheosis 1977-78 -- The God that failed 1978 -- Hardial Bains and the Canadians 1979 -- Arrests and imprisonment 1980 -- 7 June conference and Vancouver festival 1981 -- 12/13 December 1981. |
| Abstract |
Cornelius Cardew (1936-81) was a musician of genius for whom life and art were as one. He was a radical, both artistically and politically, becoming a tireless activist and uncompromising Marxist-Leninist. Passion and imagination governed all he did: his boldness and humanity continue to intrigue and inspire. The author, whose close friendship with Cardew dates from their first concert together, in January 1960, has worked for many years on this biography, and brings his subject vividly to life. In doing this, he has drawn extensively from Cardew's journals and letters, and obtained first-hand accounts from friends and colleagues. The handling of this material is thoughtful and meticulous. Tilbury is a master story-teller and this particular story is of epic scale and character. We begin in 1932, appropriately on May Day, with the first meeting of his parents. Later, we encounter the intrepid schoolboy and student, who impressed sufficiently at the Royal Academy of Music to receive funds to study in Cologne with Karlheinz Stockhausen. The narrative during this period is delightfully picaresque, a colorful prelude to the years of family responsibilities and extraordinary musical endeavor and achievement. As events unfold, discussion of the music is given due weight, but is never unduly weighty. |
